The Athletic NBA Daily – NBA Trade Deadline Preview with Sam Amick (Feb 3, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily, hosted by Dave DeFore, features The Athletic's Sam Amick and Esfandiar Baraheni ("S") for an in-depth discussion of the tensions, rumors, and possible seismic moves ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. The conversation centers on the latest James Harden trade rumors, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ aggressive posture, the emerging market for superstar trades (notably Giannis Antetokounmpo), the ripple effects for teams like the Clippers, Raptors, Kings, and Lakers, and the broader context driving this year’s dramatic trade season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. James Harden Trade Rumors & Clippers Turmoil

• Harden’s Discontent Surfaces

  • News broke during a Clippers game that Harden wants out, with rumors of a potential swap with Cleveland’s Darius Garland.
    • "[The] stunning part of it late last night...you think it's a run of the mill game...it felt like things were better but, but James obviously has got a different view." – Sam Amick (03:27)
  • Multiple insiders confirmed the Clippers are entertaining the idea of a reset, focused on clearing salary by summer 2027.

• Harden’s Contract Situation & Leverage

  • Harden's contract heavily favors the Clippers, with only $13.3 million of a $42 million salary guaranteed for next year—little security for Harden, high flexibility for LA.
  • Clippers are not signaling commitment to any veteran, including Kawhi Leonard: "It's a reset...like, am I part of the Clippers plans at all after next season? The answer appears to be no, like for anybody." – Sam Amick (05:06)
  • Harden’s knack for finding “blood in the water”: only applies leverage when he knows another team’s interested.
    • "James has an amazing knack when times are not good in his current situation...you don't apply leverage until you have something somewhere else." – Law Murray via Sam Amick (08:44)

• Trade Machine Analysis

  • Swapping Garland for Harden could cause the Clippers to lose 11 wins per ESPN’s “John Hollinger trade machine,” displaying the risk for LA (07:24).

2. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Deadline Strategy

• Potential Moves

  • Cavs’ recent trade of DeAndre Hunter signals aggression—openness to moving core pieces like Garland, Jared Allen. They're the NBA’s only second-apron team, increasing urgency.
    • "Nobody is in the type of hole that they are in terms of being limited...DeAndre Hunter deal...cut off about a third of it, and they still have a ways to go." – Sam Amick (11:16)
  • If Allen is moved to further clear salary, Cleveland could pursue bigger names.

• The LeBron Factor

  • Rumors swirl about a LeBron-Cavs homecoming, possibly catalyzed by a Harden addition.
    • "You do kind of wonder...if he can...get to Cleveland, how does that potentially impact how a guy like LeBron sees the homecoming?" – Sam Amick (13:13)
  • Other “final chapter” scenarios (ex: Steph-Giannis-Warriors attracting LeBron) briefly explored.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes

• Deal Timing

  • League consensus: any Giannis move will happen in summer, NOT at the deadline—unless Bucks ownership tires of the ongoing drama.
    • "Most people...think it's past the deadline...But the major qualifier...We're flying blind when it comes to...what Bucks ownership is telling John Horst [the GM]." – Sam Amick (14:41)
  • Cites exhaustion factor (“it happens...the exhaustion factor came into play for them...with Fox”—analogy with Kings/San Antonio trade).

• Interested Teams

  • Minnesota (exploring creative ways to up their offer), Miami, Knicks, and Warriors are mentioned.
    • "There's no way this is a conversation without Jaden McDaniels being in the deal [for Minnesota]...The Warriors...the Bucks essentially took their offer and have been shopping it to everybody else." – Sam Amick (16:14)
  • Bucks believed to be “fact-finding” more than seriously negotiating now, prepping for the offseason.

4. Kings, Raptors, and Sabonis Speculation

• Sabonis to Raptors?

  • Persistent rumors tie Domantas Sabonis to the Raptors, possibly for RJ Barrett—GM Scott Perry has a history with Barrett.
    • "People with Sabonis are claiming this is dead...But it was asserted...if not now, maybe later, [the trade] could happen in the summer." – Sam Amick (23:04)

• Obstacles

  • Key block: Kings have no interest in taking on Jakob Poeltl’s large contract; his health complicates moving him as well.

• Kings’ Direction

  • Ongoing pivots after a series of dubious deals; franchise looking to reset around youth and upcoming strong draft.

5. Rapid-Fire Rundown: Other Names and Teams

| Segment | Summary & Notable Quotes | |---|---| | Anthony Davis (29:24) | Unlikely to be moved. Some light chatter, but "irons in the fire are not completely cold."
"Probably not...likely staying put." – Sam Amick (29:31) | | Pelicans (Trey Murphy, Herb Jones) (29:56)| Only 'Godfather' offers would make them budge—market is high for both. | | Miles Bridges (30:07) | High market; newly improved Hornets likely keep him. | | Ja Morant (30:07) | Market is “very cold”; some teams waiting to see how far the price sinks. | | Jaren Jackson Jr. (30:07) | No imminent deal, but rumors persist about a future move. | | Lakers (31:35)| Unlikely to make major moves at the deadline; targeting bigger swings in summer when more draft picks unlock.
"It's likely standing pat...once they get to the summertime, they can access, I think, three first rounders." – Sam Amick (31:49) |

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It's a reset...the answer appears to be no, like for anybody."

  • Sam Amick on the Clippers’ mindset post-2027 (05:06)

• "[James Harden] has an amazing knack when times are not good...you don't apply leverage to your current place until you have something somewhere else."

  • Law Murray, relayed by Sam Amick (08:44)

• "You do kind of wonder...if he can get to Cleveland, how does that potentially impact how a guy like LeBron sees the homecoming?"

  • Sam Amick (13:13)

• "Most people, almost everybody I've talked to around the league, thinks [a Giannis trade] is past the deadline and it's into the summer."

  • Sam Amick (14:41)

• "People with Sabonis are claiming this is dead. It's not happening. Other people are claiming that's not the case...if not now, maybe later, that it could happen in the summer."

  • Sam Amick (23:04)

• "The human factor...you look at that roster and you already kind of know back then that you don't truly believe in almost any of these players."

  • Sam Amick on Kings front office moves (27:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |----------|--------------------------------------------| | 01:35 | Show introduction; trade deadline tone-setting | | 02:25 | Harden wants out: how the news broke | | 04:15 | Clippers’ long-term reset, Harden's contract dilemma | | 06:57 | Age, value, and hesitation on Harden-Garland swap | | 08:44 | Harden’s manipulative leverage play | | 10:36 | Cleveland’s big-picture moves and the LeBron question | | 14:41 | Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market and timing | | 16:14 | Suitors for Giannis: Wolves, Knicks, Warriors | | 18:02 | Bucks’ negotiating tactics and Giannis' last summer “almost trade” | | 22:14 | Raptors-Kings Sabonis intrigue & RJ Barrett connection | | 23:04 | State of Sabonis rumors, importance of Poeltl’s health | | 26:03 | Kings’ direction post-trade mistakes | | 29:24 | Anthony Davis, other big names - rapid fire| | 31:35 | Lakers’ deadline posture |

Episode Takeaways

• Major trades are brewing, but timing is likely summer: Don’t expect Giannis, Davis, or other superstars to be moved this week.
• James Harden’s next act looms: Clippers’ lack of commitment opens the door, but Cleveland’s willingness is cautious and conditional.
• Cavs and Kings are teams to watch: Both are motivated to reshape rosters aggressively—Cleveland for title urgency, Sacramento for a much-needed rebuild.
• Big names like LeBron, Giannis, and Sabonis hover over the deadline: The seeds being planted now could trigger blockbuster moves this summer.

This episode underscores just how much is shifting in the NBA landscape ahead of, but especially after, the 2026 trade deadline. There’s tension between aging stars’ desire for control and front offices’ cap maneuvering—all playing out in a market where one small leak can change the entire balance.
— NBA Daily, The Athletic (Feb 3, 2026)